The court however rejected a petition for damages. The incident began when a blast that killed eight people at the company’s chemical plant just south of the city of Jilin also discharged about 100 tonnes of highly carcinogen benzene into the Songha River. … SEPA found the company guilty of three counts of breaking environmental law and imposed the maximum fine, but for many the 1989 law no longer meets modern requirements. Now individuals and public agencies are likely to sue the company for damages. … Read the full story [PDF].